Billfish pileup at Baja's Santa Rosalia fishing area

Mexico Fishing News, October 31, 2005

SANTA ROSALIA FISHING REPORTS

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SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Mike Kanzler of Isla San Marcos reported unusual, wide-open mixed billfish action off Santa Rosalia last week as boats out of San Lucas Cove and Punta Chivato scored multiple hookups of striped marlin, sailfish, and some blue marlin, in good sea conditions and water temperatures of 76 to 80 degrees.

Jim and Marika Anderson out of San Lucas Cove scored a local billfish grand slam of striped marlin, blue marlin, and sailfish in one outing, and another run by Kanzler, with Dave Hughs and Alan Lewis of San Lucas Cove, had mostly multiple strikes on billfish beginning only two miles off the north point of Isla San Marcos. "It is being called the best Santa Rosalia fall billfish season on record in the past 20 years, and possibly ever," Kanzler said. Inshore fishing was steady, as a trip to the Isla San Marcos bajos by Kanzler and his son produced at catch of: eight bonita, one sawtail grouper, two leopard grouper, one goldspotted bass, and three yellowtail into the mid-20 pound range. SANTA ROSALIA BILLFISH REPORT.

In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:

ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS

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ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet reported steady limits or near-limits of lingcod, bass, and bottom fish for his pangas fishing at the tip of Ensenada's Punta Banda last week, plus several yellowtail of 23 to 37 pounds. On Thursday, Jay Johnson and Debbie Aslin fished with Capt. Beto on the beach launched panga Vonny I for three yellowtail to 27 pounds. Ensenada weather was cloudy in the mid-60s, with light breezes and water temperatures in the 60s. PUNTA BANDA PANGA FISHING REPORT.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: For the previous week, Chris Schatz of Brea reported excellent lingcod action at Punta Banda on a Vonny's Fleet panga: "This trip to Ivan Villarino's place at Ensenada was the best bottom fishing for lingcod I can remember in a long time...We used live mackerel just off the bottom on 40-pound line and lost just as many as we caught." PUNTA BANDA LINGCOD FISHING REPORT.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Sergio Susarrey of Sergio's Sportfishing Center reported on 33 anglers fishing aboard the Shir-Lee, El Cazador, and Quest on Saturday, with a catch of: 70 yellowtail, three yellowfin tuna, 53 lingcod, 142 rockcod, 29 whitefish, 37 sheephead, and 28 red snapper.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: For the previous week, Steve Ross of the boat Bad Dog at Marina Coral reported on a long day of unproductive fishing offshore of Ensenada: "We traveled 150 miles and covered all the offshore Ensenada fishing spots...Nothing under the paddies and nothing down below with an empty meter...I'm through and onto rockcod on Saturday." ENSENADA FISHING REPORT.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Celia Diaz of the nonprofit >Binational Emergency Medical Care Committee (BEMCC) in Chula Vista said her staff was busy last week assisting hurricane-stranded tourists in southern Mexico with emergency flights home: "There are a lot of tourists stranded in that area that have run out of money, and they don't accept their credit cards." The BEMCC also evacuated four American victims of violent crime, and arranged to have a prematurely born baby brought from Ensenada to Children's Hospital in San Diego in a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter. Emergency medical assistance and evacuation assistance from Mexico is available to BEMCC members through a $30 per year tax deductible membership: 619-425-5080.

ERENDIRA FISHING REPORTS

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ERENDIRA, MEXICO: Lee Wood of Oceanside Senior Anglers reported on a group of 15 anglers who fished two days out of Castro's Camp for good results on lingcod to 15 pounds, red rockcod, salmon grouper, and a thresher shark of 45 to 50 pounds. Wood's group fished about 130 to 190 feet deep with Captains Fernando, Waldo, Oscar, and Jorge, about seven miles north of Castro's, with the water temperature at 58 degrees and enough afternoon wind to get wet on the ride home. CASTRO'S CAMP FISHING TRIP REPORT.

ERENDIRA, MEXICO: At Castro's Camp, Fernando Castro reported on 22 boats fishing during the week, for a catch including one 14-pound halibut, many barracuda, and good counts of red rockcod, and lingcod. Castro said there is still a surprising amount of bait in the water with many pelicans and sea gulls working over them. Erendira weather had steady northwest winds in the afternoons, but boats were departing at 6:30 a.m. and were already returning to shore with their catches by the time the winds arrived. During the month of November, calm waters were expected during the anticipated periods of Santa Ana wind from the east. The water was clear blue at 58 to 59 degrees in the main fishing area 7 miles from launch.

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

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SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas reported only five boats going out during the week, for scattered yellowtail and good action on red rockcod and lingcod at the 240 spot and Isla San Martin. Winds blew on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday one boat ran south to check the recent white seabass bite at Socorro, but found none. "We are hoping the white seabass bite will resume after the water clears up a little bit," Hillis said. San Quintin weather was in the mid-70s during the afternoons. SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORT.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Earlier in the week, Julio Meza of San Quintin said he ran south to Arroyo Hondo on his boat Santa Monica and fished around Capt. Lilo, who's been catching white seabass in the area, but could not score on them, even though Lilo did it again: "Lilo again landed the only two white seabass of the day, among five more San Quintin boats fishing his same spot." Meza then ran out to Isla San Geronimo and the Sacramento Reef for a catch including calico bass, whitefish, lingcod, sheephead, and two yellowtail of 20 and 26 pounds. SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORT.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: For the previous week, Kelly Catian of K&M Offshore Sportfishing reported three more runs to the white seabass bite south of San Quintin, with catches of 11 fish of 13 to 26 pounds, one fish, and then two fish of 30 to 35 pounds on Saturday by Capt. Oscar. "The water was 62 degrees, and starting to turn green," Catian said. "We saw some big yellowtail cruising through the kelp too." SAN QUINTIN WHITE SEABASS REPORTS.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Steve Barstow of the Sportsmen Pub in Paso Robles said his early-October bus charter fishing trip to Bahia de los Angeles was blown out by westerly winds, so his group of 18 anglers returned to fish out of the Old Mill in San Quintin, fishing mainly around the 240 spot for 25 yellowtail, plus limits or near-limits of lingcod, red rockcod, whitefish, calico bass, and sandbass. "For a trip that could have turned into a disaster, we ended up with really great fishing!" Barstow said. SAN QUINTIN BUS FISHING TRIP.

BAJA COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

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BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Juanchys Aguilar of La Bocana on the Pacific coast of Baja reported on a total of nine sportfishing outings by two different boats with a combined catch of about 290 medium and large yellowtail, plus calico bass, sandbass, 10 halibut inside the lagoon, and 24 dorado outside Roca Ballena. Winds off the Baja coast were at about 20 knots, and dorado and tuna were caught about 10 to 12 miles out. BAJA FISHING REPORT.

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Derek Arneson of San Diego reported on his excellent yellowtail fishing trip with Juanchys Aguilar of La Bocana: "...The first day with just two of us in the panga we boated 38 yellowtail!...Thank you very much Juanchy...!" LA BOCANA YELLOWTAIL TRIP REPORT.

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

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MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Bill Erhardt of Loreto trailered his boat to Baja's Pacific side and fished two offshore days out of Puerto Lopez Mateos last week, finding slow action for a total catch of one dorado and one wahoo outside at the Thetis Bank, and four sierra just outside the Boca de Soledad entrada. On Friday, Jim Luithly and Andres Cota fished outside on another boat and scored on: one wahoo of about 30 pounds, two dorado, one marlin, and one yellowtail. Water temperatures at the Thetis Bank peaked at 75 degrees and were at 70 degrees just outside Boca de Soledad. MAGDALENA BAY THETIS BANK FISHING REPORT.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Over the weekend, Diana Hoyt of Mag Bay Outfitters reported good results on wahoo, marlin, dorado, yellowfin tuna, and skipjack, in 76-degree water, with some winds, from an area halfway between Boca de Soledad at Puerto Lopez Mateos and the Thetis Bank.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported good wahoo, marlin, and yellowfin tuna action just inside the Thetis Bank. Enrique Soto of San Carlos said conditions looked good outside and marlin were seen but not biting, as the entrada produced a few yellowtail and grouper. Corvina were caught in the mangrove channels, plus a few snook to 10 pounds at Devil's Curve. Magdalena Bay weather was clear in the high-70s, with water temperatures at 70 to 77 degrees. MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORT.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: John Gilkerson of Cypress, Calif., and his group took two trailer boats to Magdalena Bay and fished five days out of the Mag Bay Tours remote camp at Punta Hughes, just outside the San Carlos entrada. Gilkerson reported up-and-down offshore action, mostly around the Thetis Bank, including several marlin, a wide-open yellowfin tuna bite, three dorado caught under a sea turtle, and one wahoo concentration that allowed a 47-pound wahoo to be free-gaffed as it swam past the boat. Magdalena Bay water temperatures were 68 to 70 degrees inshore, and 75 to 77 degrees outside. MAGDALENA BAY THETIS BANK FISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

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CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet reported the results of the 2005 Bisbee's Black & Blue Marlin Tournament, with 185 boats fishing, nine qualifying fish over 300 pounds weighed, 345 billfish released, and the winners: First place, Pez Espada, 531-pound black marlin, $1,348,440; second place, Young Lady, 396-pound blue marlin, $1,000,613; third place, Felina, 321-pound black marlin, $453,233; and fourth place, Bad Market, 319-pound blue marlin, $397,215. BISBEE'S BLACK & BLUE MARLIN TOURNAMENT REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: For the previous week, Ehrenberg reported 36 percent of Pisces charters releasing billfish, mostly striped marlin, 58 percent with dorado, only 7 percent with yellowfin tuna, and 84 percent with all species combined. Only two blue marlin were caught, as charter boats concentrated on the cooler Pacific side for higher probability striped marlin. "Few sportfishing boats fished the Cortez side and the famous Gordo Banks, known to be a hang out for large blue marlin," Ehrenberg said. CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tommy Garcia of Cabo Magic reported on 124 boats, with a catch including released fish of: two blue marlin, one black marlin, 55 striped marlin, two sailfish, 93 yellowfin tuna, 96 dorado, 18 roosterfish, and one sea turtle released after hitting a trolled bait. CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing reported Cabo San Lucas weather as sunny in the low-90s all week, with blue water at 80 to 83 degrees moving closer to shore on the Cortez side. CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Benjamin Ortega of Solmar Fleet reported a catch including released fish of: 31 striped marlin, six blue marlin, 39 dorado, and 45 yellowfin tuna. Solmar's top boat for the week was the Solmar I, with Capt. Federico Marron and a seven-outing catch including released fish of: 12 striped marlin, 24 yellowfin tuna, and 32 dorado. CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported a non-tournament 550-pound blue marlin landed by the Fish Cabo I about 10 miles outside the 95 spot. Cabo San Lucas sea conditions were very good, with water temperatures ranging from 79 degrees at the Golden Gate bank on the Pacific side, to 92 degrees at the 95 spot. CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas reported on 174 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing off San Jose del Cabo during the week, with a catch of: 525 yellowfin tuna, two striped marlin, 18 sailfish, 82 dorado, seven wahoo, one roosterfish, 160 white skipjack, 180 pargo, 22 cabrilla, 14 grouper, six sierra, 32 rainbow runners, 28 amberjack, and 175 triggerfish. Heavy fishing pressure during the Bisbee's Black & Blue marlin tournament made bait supplies short and crowded the tuna grounds at Iman and Santa Maria as tournament boats sought live tuna baits. San Jose del Cabo weather was near-perfect during the week, with water temperatures at 80 to 83 degrees. SAN JOSE DEL CABO FISHING REPORT.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Bob Lewis of San Jose del Cabo reported two very slow days of fishing at midweek on his boat Dos Gueros, with sardina baits very small and hard to find, and a two-day catch of one 15-pound dorado and two Humboldt squid. "...Most boats reported very difficult fishing with a few small tuna and some dorado," Lewis said. SAN JOSE DEL CABO SLOW FISHING REPORT.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Species fishing specialist John Snow of San Jose del Cabo reported on two days of surf fishing and five days of panga fishing with Capt. Pata on the Salome, for a catch of 24 species either caught or observed in the bait tank, including one new species, skipjack tuna. Overall fishing was slow, with bait scarce: "I would rate this San Jose del Cabo fishing week as bad as I have ever seen it...As the tourist business and sportfishing interest expands in the area...problems related to the supply of quality live bait and crowded fishing conditions will escalate." SAN JOSE DEL CABO SPECIES FISHING REPORT.

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

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EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Chris Moyers of East Cape Smoke House reported on 329 boats from combined fleets including the Van Wormer resorts of Palmas de Cortez and Playa de Sol, with a catch including released fish of: 962 yellowfin tuna, 11 blue marlin, 136 striped marlin, 102 sailfish, 47 dorado, 23 pargo, six wahoo, 18 amberjack, six roosterfish, and one sierra. Included in the tuna catch were three fish over 200 pounds, as boats fished for tuna in all directions. EAST CAPE FISHING REPORT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Lance Smith of Escondido and his wife Tracey reported a good tuna day last week on the boat Miss Petunia out of Hotel Playa del Sol, fishing offshore of Cabo Pulmo for action on five yellowfin tuna of 30 to about 100 pounds. The tuna hit a combination of cedar plugged trolled on porpoise and chuck squid baits. Boats running north to the 88 bank also scored on tuna, and good numbers of sailfish and some marlin were also caught. EAST CAPE FISHING REPORT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: At Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort, Marisol Verdugo said four to five boats were fishing daily, with good yellowfin tuna action including one fish of 256 pounds caught on the Adelaida by Capt. Victor and deckhand Paco. Bottom fish, pargo, and striped marlin were also in the mix.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Leeper, at Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort, reported hot yellowfin tuna fishing, as East Cape boats used chunked squid about 25 miles out for a good mix of sizes, including a 260-pound class fish brought in during the week at Verdugo's. Striped marlin fishing was also good, but dorado were scarce and small. East Cape fishing weather was calm at 90 degrees, with the water temperature at 83 to 85 degrees. EAST CAPE FISHING REPORT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Roy Baldwin of Rancho Leonero reported good fall weather at about 90 degrees, with calm blue water at 82 to 84 degrees and some afternoon breezes from the southeast. The billfish bite on mixed sailfish and striped marlin moved south to about 10 miles off the hotel, and yellowfin tuna of 30 to 80 pounds were caught about 10 miles out from La Ribera to Cabo Pulmo. Humboldt squid present off La Ribera was being used for bait. EAST CAPE FISHING REPORT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said Joe and Nick Turano of Houston both landed striped marlin on fly tackle last week, plus some football tuna off Cabo Pulmo, and they also had some hot beach fishing action for ladyfish, jacks, and small roosterfish. With sardina bait still scarce, chunked Humboldt squid was used for chum. East Cape fishing slowed at the end of the week, with inshore waters producing the best action. EAST CAPE FLY FISHING REPORT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Tami Mouyeos of Rancho Buena Vista reported on 53 boats fishing during the week, with a catch of: nine striped marlin, six blue marlin, two wahoo, 21 dorado, four pargo, and 204 tuna.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Paul Oldaker of Steamboat Springs, Colo., and his group fished five days out of East Cape's Hotel Playa del Sol, on the Cutty Sark, Victor Antonio, and Chureya, getting skunked their first two days, but then coming back for football tuna, several 45 to 60-pound tuna, three sailfish, and one striped marlin while fishing a wide area from the 88 bank off Isla Cerralvo to Los Frailes in the south. EAST CAPE FISHING REPORT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Mark Rayor of the Vista Sea Sport dive service reported 80 degrees at depth and excellent conditions at the Cabo Pulmo coral reef as the fall season approached: "This is the last calm before the north wind arrives and changes everything...It doesn't get any better than this." Rayor also reported on a good fishing day with a catch of nine tuna to 90 pounds, plus a blue marlin. EAST CAPE DIVING REPORT.

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

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LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International reported continued good late-season dorado action on the La Paz side, including a few fish in the 30 to 40-pound class, plus some marlin mixed in, off Las Cruces and the southeast corner of Isla Espiritu Santo. At El Bajo, schools of hammerhead shark were reported by divers at 60 to 130 feet. Fishing was slower on the Las Arenas side, as boats searched for tuna, dorado, pargo and mixed species: "Some days, the bite is pretty nice, then the next day for no apparent reason, we really have to scratch." LA PAZ FISHING REPORT.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Dos Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing reported cooling daytime temperatures in the mid-80s and some winds from the north and west. Fishing on the Las Arenas side was mostly northwards toward Las Cruces where dorado of 16 to 30 pounds were caught. At Punta Perico, pargo and cabrilla were caught on chunk squid baits, and marlin and sailfish were located about 5 miles out. LAS ARENAS FISHING REPORT.

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

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LORETO, MEXICO: Patty Zapata of the Hotel Oasis reported good action yellowtail action for several boats last week about 6 miles south of Isla Carmen, on fish in the 20-pound class. Two boats with Captains Isidro Mendoza and Martín Perpuli also found sailfish about a mile off Punta Lobos at the north end of the island. LORETO FISHING REPORT.

LORETO, MEXICO: Pam Bolles of Baja Big Fish Company reported winds calming during the week, small dorado of about 10 pounds caught, and some 25-pound class yellowtail showing up at Punta Perico outside Isla Carmen, plus some sailfish and marlin north off the San Bruno bajo: "There is still a buoy anchored there and folks go in search of dorado, but they've been having better luck on the billfish instead." Loreto water temperatures were at 78 to 83 degrees. LORETO FISHING REPORT.

LORETO, MEXICO: Jeff Petersen of Loreto reported on a night fishing trip by his boat Baja Californian early in the week, fishing with Guti Davis and Nacho Davis of the Carnaderos y Pescaderos cooperativa 95 feet deep at a local bajo for mackerel and jurelito baits, and then moving at midnight to north San Nicolas for yellowtail and cabrilla. The Baja Californian fished in 78-degree weather, with the water temperature at 81.6 degrees.

BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES (L.A. BAY) FISHING REPORTS

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BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: Roger Crenshaw of San Francisquito reported conditions as windy from all directions and "the worst I have ever seen for fishing" during a 10-day trip: "Twelve-pound yellowtail were rare, skipjack plentiful, squid plentiful, and the fishing water was 75 degrees and murky." Crenshaw trolled out to Isla San Pedro Martir and back to Isla San Lorenzo without a dorado strike. SAN FRANCISQUITO FISHING REPORT.

BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: J.L. Terry of San Francisquito reported continued good weather conditions but "no surface fish" at the end of the week: "We're waiting for the yellowtail, maybe in November."

BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: Abraham Vazquez of Camp Gecko at Bahia de los Angeles reported fair local fishing for a few small yellowtail down deep on jigs. Some sierra were present in the bay. Whale sharks finally made their appearance "very late, so the season will not be long." Bahia de los Angeles weather was in the low-80s, with water temperatures at 76 to 80 degrees. BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES FISHING REPORT.

SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS

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SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Fily Espinoza of Tony Reyes Fishing Tours reported on a six-day Midriff Islands trip by the panga mothership Jose Andres, returning to San Felipe on Oct. 28, 2005, with a catch of: 170 yellowtail, 14 to 26 pounds; one black sea bass, 55 pounds; two white seabass, 24 to 30 pounds; 29 cabrilla, 10 to 14 pounds; two red snapper, 18 pounds; two broomtail, 16 pounds; three sheephead, 12 pounds; 152 spotted bay bass; four shark, 18 pounds; and 48 miscellaneous fish. The Jose Andres fished in water temperatures averaging 75 degrees.

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Tony Reyes Jr. of Tony Reyes Fishing Tours reported on a 6-day Midriff Islands trip by the panga mothership Tony Reyes, returning to San Felipe on Oct. 21, 2005, with a catch of: 286 yellowtail to 38 pounds, one grouper of 110 pounds, 73 cabrillas to 8 pounds, 105 squid to 15 pounds, 22 red snapper to 6 pounds, two broomtail of 15 to 22 pounds, 38 sheephead of 3 to 16 pounds, 135 spotted bay bass, and 35 miscellaneous fish released. Water temperatures during the trip averaged 75 degrees. Ray Reyes of Henderson, Nev., also reported on the trip. TONY REYES PANGA MOTHERSHIP MIDRIFF FISHING REPORT.

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Doug Magee of Papa Fernandez landing reported on a very good inshore fishing trip with Jason Henniger and Mike Cope, who was the person evacuated from the area in June after he was bitten by a rattlesnake. Magee fished about 3 hours around Isla Willard with a very wide variety of rubber, plugs, and spoons for a multi-species catch including bonefish, Spanish mackerel, orangemouth corvina, barred pargo, two types of pompano, lizardfish, barracuda, triggerfish, spotted bay bass, ribera cabrilla or Panama graysby, and hogfish, but no sierra or yellowtail. GONZAGA BAY INSHORE FISHING REPORT.

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Catalina Meders of the Title Company Bookstore overlooking the bay reported much cooler weather in the low-70s, and preparations underway for the annual San Felipe Shrimp Festival on Nov. 3-6, 2005. Seagoing raft builder Poppa Neutrino was reported to be planning to build a larger raft for his adventure cruise down the Sea of Cortez. SAN FELIPE TOWN REPORT.

ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO) FISHING REPORTS

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ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO), MEXICO: Mike Auditore of Phoenix reported on an outstanding black sea bass run for his boat El Gato Blanco, about 50 miles south of Rocky Point. Fishing with Hap Balmes in 277 feet of water at 80 degrees, the boat scored on four black sea bass of about 165, 177, 200 pounds, plus another of about 50 pounds released, on only six drops with cut sierra bait: "It was like black sea bass everywhere." Two other boats fishing at the same spot caught a total of six more black sea bass. Sea conditions off Rocky Point were calm, with a water temperature of 80 degrees. ROCKY POINT FISHING REPORT.

SAN CARLOS (SONORA) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Bill Molden of San Carlos reported good yellowfin tuna action on fish of 40 to 60 pounds, caught about 16 to 30 miles out of San Carlos on headings of 150 to 270 degrees. Some marlin and sailfish were also caught, but Molden said, "...With the water cooling from the high 70's they are short-lived in the area." Yellowtail were also showing up in cooling water around Isla San Pedro Nolasco, but most San Carlos boats were chasing tuna. SAN CARLOS FISHING REPORT.

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Bob Blair of Fishing San Carlos reported a skunked run at the beginning of the week, but another on Monday for seven yellowfin tuna over 35 pounds in about 3 hours of fishing. Fishing during the rest of the week on his boat Andale produced 37 tuna averaging 35 pounds, seven dorado, and two striped marlin released. San Carlos boats were scoring on tuna about 19 to 22 miles out on a heading of 160 degrees. SAN CARLOS FISHING REPORT.

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

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MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 38 Aries Fleet boats out of Mazatlan's Marina el Cid, with a catch including released fish of: three blue marlin, 57 sailfish, and 17 dorado. Inshore pangas got good results on red snapper, plus some jack crevalle and triggerfish. Mazatlan weather was mostly calm in the high-80s, with water temperatures at 89 to 91 degrees. MAZATLAN FISHING REPORT.

PUERTO VALLARTA FISHING REPORTS

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PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Stan Vath of Oxnard reported on two more outings by his boat Tinknocker during its extended fishing session at Puerto Vallarta, including Vath's personal best yellowfin tuna to date, a 291 pounder landed on Oct. 26, 2005. Another other large tuna of 224 pounds was caught the same day, but the Tinknocker's best fish of the season remained the 313 pounder caught on Sept. 25, 2005. After two years of keeping "cow" records, Vath commented: "...The average number of days on the water to land a 200-pound yellowfin tuna is three to four, and 13 to 14 days to get a 300-pound yellowfin tuna." TINKOCKER PUERTO VALLARTA BIG TUNA REPORT.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Osuna of Marla's Sportfishing reported on two runs to Roca Corbeteña by the Marla 2 last week, landing yellowfin tuna of 240 and 286 pounds for angler Sergio Alpenia of Puerto Vallarta, and a 500-pound class black marlin for angler Jerry Martin of Santa Cruz. Osuna said Alpenia's big 286-pound tuna hit a rainbow runner bait only 20 yards from the rock and was at first thought to be a big pargo: "...But after making a few strong runs, we knew we had a real fish on." Puerto Vallarta weather was flat, with clear water at 85 degrees. PUERTO VALLARTA FISHING REPORT.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

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IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze of Zihuatanejo reported offshore water conditions improving, and 82-degree water only 6 miles out, but fishing still sluggish, as Ixtapa Zihuatanejo boats averaged about one sailfish per day plus a few dorado of 20 to 25 pounds. Hans Clausen of Denmark fished three days with Capt. Santiago of the Gitana for a catch of: eight large jack crevalle, one sailfish, a couple of roosterfish, and several more jacks. IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORT.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Paul Phillips of the Fintastic Total Tag & Release Tournament said, "Things are improving daily, the season is taking shape...The only thing left to happen is for some fish to get reoriented from the storm a couple weeks back."

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said Ixtapa Zihuatanejo weather was calm in the mid-80s, with water temperatures of 80 to 84 degrees. A few spaces were still open for Baja On The Fly's "Sails and Tales" all-release sailfish fly tackle tournament on Dec. 1-6, 2005. The tournament features five days of guided fly fishing and five nights' accommodations: bajafly@bajafly.com, 800-919-2252.

HUATULCO FISHING REPORTS

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HUATULCO, MEXICO: Eric Weissman of Explore Fly Fishing reported cooler water temperatures at 77 degrees at his San Augustinillo fishing location in Huatulco. "Many warmer water species are staying deep," Weissman said. "Sailfish continue to hit...We landed a pile of sails this week." HUATULCO FLY FISHING REPORT.

Fish Photo 1

HOT SANTA ROSALIA BILLFISH BITE--"Deep" Dave Hughs (left) and "VooDoo Lounge" Alan Lewis with a nice striped marlin caught by Lewis in last week's super-hot, multiple-hookup mixed billfish bite off Santa Rosalia. The marlin was released. Photo courtesy Mike Kanzler.

GOOD YELLOWTAIL MORNING--Capt. Beto Zamora (left) of Ensenada's Vonny's Fleet panga operation fished with Debbie Aslin and Jay Johnson on Thursday and they scored on three nice Punta Banda yellowtail of 23 to 27 pounds. Photo courtesy Ivan Villarino.

ARM'S LENGTH LINGCOD--Chris Schatz fished near the rocks of Ensenada's Punta Banda on a Vonny's Fleet panga and scored on a bunch of nice lingcod: "...The best bottom fishing for lingcod I can remember in a long time." Photo courtesy Chris Schatz.

SOUTH OF SAN QUINTIN--Boats from Kelly Catian's K&M Offshore Sportfishing took anglers south from San Quintin three times for a total of 14 white seabass to 35 pounds. Photo courtesy Kelly Catian.

LA BOCANA CALICO--Richard Arneson hoists a real nice calico bass during his group's trip to fish with Capt. Juanchys Aguilar at La Bocana on Baja's semi-remote Pacific coast. Photo courtesy Richard Arneson.

DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' ROD!--Jimester Bentley lucked out and free-gaffed a wahoo swimming by the boat during his trip to the Thetis Bank off Magdalena Bay on John Gilkerson's A-SALT-WEAPON. Photo courtesy John Gilkerson.

THETIS 'HOO--Bill Erhardt of Loreto with a 48-pound wahoo caught Friday while fishing solo out of Puerto Lopez Mateos at the Thetis Bank off Magdalena Bay. Photo courtesy Jim Luithly.

TUNA STRINGER--Ed Perry and his son fished at the Iman bank area north of San Jose del Cabo last week with Gordo Banks Pangas' Capt. Chame Pino and got into the yellowfin tuna with this nice lineup of fish to 40 pounds. Photo courtesy Eric Brictson.

EAST CAPE TUNA--Lance Smith of Escondido and his wife Tracey fished on Miss Petunia out of East Cape's Hotel Playa del Sol and got into yellowfin tuna action off Cabo Pulmo on fish of 30 to about 100 pounds. Photo courtesy Lance Smith.

LA PAZ MIXED SPECIES--John Gimmie of Phoenix fished on La Paz' Las Arenas side with Capt. Hugo Lucero of Tortuga Sportfishing and he scored on mixed species including tuna, dorado, and this nice barred pargo. Photo courtesy Dos Hernandez.

SOUTH OF ISLA CARMEN--Anglers (left to right) John Penner, John Bidges, Steve Jones, and Jim Jones fished out of Loreto's Hotel Oasis last week and found good yellowtail action about 6 miles south of Isla Carmen. Photo courtesy Patty Zapata.

THREE OF FOUR--Mike Auditore (right) and Hap Balmes fished about 50 miles south of Rocky Point on Auditore's boat El Gato Blanco and scored four black sea bass on only six drops to the bottom with cut sierra bait, keeping fish of about 166, 177, and 200 pounds. Photo courtesy Mike Auditore.

BIG SUSHI HUG--Sergio Alpenia of Puerto Vallarta with a big armful of 286 pounds of yellowfin tuna that he whipped with standup tackle in 35 minutes aboard the charter boat Marla 2. The fish hit only 20 yards off Roca Corbeteña and was at first thought to be a pargo. Photo courtesy Danny Osuna.

LORETO BAIT GUYS--Ignacio "Nacho" Davis of the Loreto Carnaderos y Pescadores baitsellers cooperativa brings in a few during a night fishing session on Jeff Petersen's boat Baja Californian. Photo courtesy Jeff Petersen.

BAJA MEXICO FISHING REPORT ARCHIVES AND FISH PICTURES